Thursday, May 31, 2007

Can you hear the relief? Because I don't know that I have ever been so relieved after a freaking 5 hour test. Which is especially true since I don't think I have ever TAKEN a 5 hour test before today. I'm glad to be done, and I refuse to really start worrying about what score I will get until at least tomorrow.

Thanks so much to everyone who called and emailed and all of that yesterday...it was plesantly surprising and very, very kind. You're all too nice. Seriously.

And for anyone who might be seeking a new form of self torture...I highly recommend taking the MCAT. Although perhaps if it didn't matter so much it wouldn't make you as crazy as it did me...

And I have nothing else. After the test, I turned into a pool of mushy goo, and I won't return to my real self until at least tomorrow. Happy Thursday!

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

...whose life is ruled by a calendar? And I don't mean something weird, like I sacrifice animals according to a lunar calendar or anything. Just that I am OBSESSED with my own personal calendar. And I am not even sure that obsessed is a word that will do justice to what I am. Seriously.

I am fanatical about writing everything on my calendar. Even if I end up writing it on the calendar AFTER it happened. On it goes, as if there were no record of it if it doesn't get written down.

Birthdays? Check. Anniversaries? Check. Returning library books...drinks...dinner...study time...class times... Well, you get the picture. Everything that is anything goes on the calendar.

And it isn't enough just to write everything down. I also check to make sure that I am not forgetting anything. I happen to use outlook for my calendar, which links with my palm. This sounds a little techno-nerdy, but it's even worse than that. The whole reason that I do it is so that I can have the ability to check my calendar when I'm not at home. I won't agree to anything without checking the calendar first...

So tell me, please, that I am not the only person who is ruled (by my own choice, of course) by my calendar. Surely there are other severely Type A people out there?! And if you are not a calendar keeper, I have to know...how do you do it? How do you make it the places you are supposed to be, when you are supposed to be there?

Sunday, May 27, 2007

1. I take the MCAT on Thursday. Which means that by Thursday night, there will only be a pool of mushy goo left of me. Sad, isn't it?

2. I spent all yesterday at a birthday party for a one year old. And even though the birthday boy went to bed 5 hours before the party ended, we were not detered. Good times. And, I learned a new card game...if you're nice to me then maybe I'll teach you!

3. There are Buddhist monks at Union Station were halfway done making a mandala. And when they left one night, a two year old danced right through it! Oops! And then, to make things even worse...the mother left with the kid and didn't tell anyone about the little dance her child had just finished! Apparently she thought that it would be a nice surprise for someone first thing in the morning... But you have to give the monks some credit, the only thing that they said on camera was that "he was just a little kid" although I have to wonder if there weren't a few more things said off camera about the whole thing. Probably there wasn't, yet one of the many reasons that I am not a buddhist monk...

4. I am excessively nerdy. One of my favorite shows is Numbers. But what makes me nerdy for liking it is that it is a show all about math. Seriously...sometimes I wonder if it's time to break out a pocket protector.

5. I'm sure that by now anyone who knows who Josh Hancock is has heard about what his father is doing. The cliffs notes version is that Josh Hancock was killed in a car accident when he rear ended a tow truck that had stopped to help someone else. After a few days, it came to light that Hancock was drunk. And now his father is suing the restaurant for serving him alcohol, the driver of the tow truck for being in the left lane helping someone else, AND the driver of the stalled car for crashing into the median in the first place. I'm very sorry that he lost his son, but let's be honest...you can't blame a guy who had the bad luck to hit the median for a grown man's poor decision. Seriously, let's take some responsibility here folks!

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Today you are a whole year old -- which is a lot for a little guy, but you're not so little any more! We went to lunch and you spent a lot of time picking out the perfect drink to celebrate your big day -- after all, having the right drink is an important decision!

Although what you ended up with was chocolate milk...

In the last year you have grown from a squirming newborn into a little boy. You drink from a cup, feed yourself, and can walk anywhere you want to go, with steps that get steadier every day. You're getting more independent, but you still don't stray too far away - you love to be held and snuggle.

You love to play with balls and bubbles, dig in the sandbox, and anything that Garrett might have in his hands. You love animals, and you adore being outside. Although you are none to pleased when it's time to go in!

You can't talk yet (although you are certain to make everyone aware of your noise making capabilities) but you are getting very good at asking for what you want. You can ask for food, drink, milk, book, and especially MORE (of anything and everything) - which is by far your favorite sign! You are learning to wave bye bye, and you are quick to reward those who look your way with a great big smile.

I can't wait to see what the next year will bring...happy birthday my little boo bear!

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Being the resourceful girl tht I am (enough with the snickering...I AM a resourceful girl) I like to keep up with fun things for the kids and I to do. Because we can only go to the same places so many times before I want to tear my hair out. Except Wonderscope...that I think we could go to every day and never get bored...

But I digress. So I found a fun new thing to do at Pump It Up...they have open play for 2-6 year olds on Tuesdays and Fridays. It's a huge room full of inflatable play houses and slides. It was awesome!! I wasn't sure how things would go, since sometimes the best laid plans are disasters. But this couldn't have been better! And let me tell you...all that jumping and climbing was quite a work out! I don't know the last time that I was so sore so fast...and before you make fun, you try it and see how you feel! I'm telling you -- it's hard work, especially when you're holding a one year old!

On Saturday, the kids and I went with a neighbor to Special Families Day at the Fire Station. I couldn't believe all of the things that they had to do -- and Garrett even did some of it, making it even better!

After we had fun at the fire station, we went to the farm with Bryce, who I'm sure had no idea what he was in for. But was a jolly good sport none the less about feeding the animals and catching fish. Doesn't it look like we had fun?!

And in non-child related news (which seems to be few and far between, doesn't it?) I got my copy of the MSAR today. Which is basically a big book of profiles of the admitted classes to each of the medical schools for the previous year. It has info on tuition, gpa, mcat scores, special featuers of the school...you get the picture. Having this book in my possession now serves as a reminder of the immediate need to do really well on the MCAT. Which is only 9 days away...not like I'm counting or anything...

And here is Finn, making sure I don't sneek out the door without her knowing...

Monday, May 21, 2007

Today started off with me not wanting to get out of bed. Never a good feeling. Or a very happy way to start the day.

Garrett was a cranky fuss bucket this morning. Why? No idea...I would wonder who peed in his cereal, but I know that wasn't the problem since I made pancakes for breakfast this morning.

On continues the incessant whining from Garrett. Although Bennett took a nap this morning without requiring me to hold him and pace for 20 minutes. Bonus.

Garrett went to swimming lessons and Bennett and I go for a walk. Yay for exercise. And back we return...missing a shoe. So then we had to get in the car and drive until we found the shoe.

At lunch, I was heating up chicken alfredo voila in the microwave. I take it out to stir it, and drop the ENIRE bowl on the floor. And on Bennett. Please imagine the mess, then increase it threefold. That should paint a more accurate picture.

Follow this lunch with a total scream fest from the small one. And more exercise for me, since pacing for 30 minutes while holding said child is the only thing that would keep him from screaming.

Ahh...and all that fun before 1:00...how lucky is that?!

The good news being that the second half of the day can only be described as much better than the first half.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Yesterday it was raining, and the kids were desperate to leave the house. So we went to the mall - lots of space, a free play area, shopping and a carosel and train - what could be better?

Glad that you asked.

What could be better was if the carosel and train were actually there. Apparently in the time since we had been to the mall last (which admittedly has been a month or so) they have removed the carosel. Not just stopped running it, but actually taken the entire thing out. Now there is just a big hole where it used to be. Try explaining that to a two year old...

There is a sign saying that a new one is coming, but I'm going to have to make sure before we take another trip to the mall...and I'm slightly skeptical anyway. The sign said something about a Euro double decker carosel, and I have no idea what that means. But I do know that we have enough trouble with just one level of a carosel, so we most certainly don't need two! But we'll see how it goes...

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Good, because I am totally tired of talking about them. And taking them - although that does go without saying...

In other news, it's raining this morning. And I have a confession to make: I am totally obsessed with the weather. I will, without a doubt be one of those old wrinkled women who is always talking about the weather. I already feel like I talk about the weather all the time. Even Garrett, when we make the plans for what to do, runs to check out the window to see the weather. At least I know that I'm not dorky alone...I've converted the boys to my dorky ways too...

Then again, spending all day with me, those boys don't stand a chance...

Monday, May 14, 2007

Tonight I have my first (and thankfully second to last) final of the spring semester. Which reminds me how much I hate finals. Not that anyone particularly enjoys them, I know I am not alone in my detest for them, but this semester I am dreading them more than most. Probably because I haven't really been able to make myself study for them.

I have been able to multi task for as long as I can remember - and without any major problems. But for the last two weeks I can't seem to focus on ANYTHING...and it's starting to make me crazy. Not to mention the fact that it's about to do a real number on my grades...

So that is my current crisis of sorts - I need to study in the most desperate of ways, and I feel like I am getting nowhere. And that's just for finals....the fact that the MCAT is only three weeks away is another crisis all together.

I suppose that the good news is that, for better or worse, the finals will be over by tomorrow night. Then I can move on to the real problem - the MCAT studying which I am currently weeks behind in. *Sigh* I guess I did this to myself...

Sunday, May 13, 2007

I know that you all must have missed me terribly last week -- but I swear I had a good reason for disappearing...

1. I didn't have a Sunday List last week because I was out of town at my sister's graduation from University of Dayton. There are gobs of pictures (because when don't I take gobs of pictures) but I have yet to download them for your viewing pleasure. You know what they say....some things are worth waiting for...

2. I went to the Kansas City Zoo yesterday - for the first time ever! I was highly impressed, because I thought that it was super fun - even though I saw just a bit of it...it was hot and there were two sleeping small boys involved - trust me, you wouldn't have seen any more than I would have. But I'm excited to go back!

3. I have my finals on Monday and Tuesday. I am not excited about this -- in fact, I am one of the farthest things from excited that one could possibly be. It's beautiful and sunny out, and since I didn't study all day yesterday, I will be forced to stay inside and attempt to get smart for the duration of today. Ugh - this is not going to be pretty.

4. I am not super girly, but I LOVE to shop. Not to mention that I am a fantastic shopper - I can spot a great deal from a mile away. Yay for that! And yay for me again - I went shopping for hours yesterday and I didn't buy anything -- how's that for impressive?!

5. I am crafty and creative -- I can make scrapbooks and cards and things that will make you coo and drool over their cuteness. And I love it - Archivers is one of my very favorite stores - I think that if I won the lottery I would buy one (or maybe two) of everything in that store. If you have never been, you should totally go - then we could have fun times togther! Come on...you know you want to....

Friday, May 11, 2007

...is that I am really glad that it's Friday! Although I'm not sure why that's so exciting, since I will spend the ENTIRE weekend studying. If you are looking for me, I'll be right here - it won't be hard to find me!

Oh well, at least I'll have a few weeks without class four nights a week...

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Tonight I skipped class (I know I'm bad) because there was a Nerinx alumnae gathering for those of us that live in Kansas City. In addition to making me feel totally old (which I did -- who is old enough to go to an alumnae reception?!) I was not totally sure what to expect.

It was totally fun!

I was, admittedly, a little surprised. But still, lots of fun. I didn't know anyone else there, but everyone was super easy to talk to and had lots of interesting things to say. So if you ever get a chance to go to a Nerinx alumnae reception (given, of course, that you actually went to Nerinx) then you totally should. Besides, how great it is to have your high school pay for drinks?!

In other news, the Style channel is playing the Biggest Loser a zillion times a day during the month of May. This is exciting to me, because I love that show - there is something so nice about watching fat people work hard and get skinny. It's very heartwarming.

Although it may not be having the desired effect -- since I watched it this morning while eating Baskin Robbins ice cream.

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Today my little sister is 24. Which seems, since I'm only a little older than her myself, to be really old. Because you can fit a lot into 24 years, which I know since I am the older and ehem, supposedly wiser, one.

When she was little, I remember that she used to cry at everything. And I do mean everything. Which I probably remember since I was probably the one making her cry at least half the time...it wasn't that I was a mean little kid, it was seriously just that she cried easily. See, look, she's bawling her head off and I'm not doing anything to her!

After 24 years, there is a lot to know about a person - especially one that you lived with for the majority of those years. She loved barbies. She used to bite me. She loved the color pink. She was messy. She slept late. When we were in middle school we really wanted to share a room and my parents wouldn't let us.

It was after this that I think how different we were started to become apparent. We went to different schools. I, the perpetual nerd, was slightly embarrassing to my ever and always cool younger sister. Then, I moved away to go to college - and never moved back. Then I graduated and took a job that required me to work holidays instead of traveling back to see my family. And you know how it goes...days turn to weeks, and the weeks quickly turn to years. And life happens.

And today she turns 24. She's still messy (while I am a total organization freak), she sleeps late (and I am up by sunrise), she goes out to party until late at night (and this is my exception rather than my rule), she is the height of fashion (and I am just a few measures away from the big hair of the 80s), she teaches first grade (and my degree is in nursing).

We might be total opposites, but she is my sister and I love her. So happy birthday, Tess, I hope that the coming year is filled with enough love, happiness, and success to make it everything you want it to be. I love you!

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

I am a self confessed TV junkie. One of my new favorites - and the first thing to make me literally laugh out loud while watching in quite a while - is Notes From the Underbelly. Seriously - it's a riot. Or at least I think so. But this is coming from the girl who has seen The Wedding Planner about a million times, so you might want to take the recommendation with a grain of salt. Or whatever.

I also went to Wonderscope again today. It was nice - it entertains the kids in a way like nothing else can. Which is, in a word, awesome. Or in two words, super great. But what was greater was the fact that it was followed by a super yummy lunch and then (as if it could get any better...but I assure you, it can) it was followed by 3 bliss filled hours of two boys napping. Ahhhh, if I hadn't spent the afternoon studying for an organic chemistry test from hell, it would have been perfect.

And speaking of the organic chemistry test from hell...it did not disappoint. It was most defnitely hellacious. And now just a few short days until finals start...how did I get so lucky?!

About Me

I have 2 dogs. And 20 lb ball of fur that meows (a cat). I love Diet Coke. I am a medical student. I am also a nurse. I love photography. My life is amazing...don't believe me? Just look - you'll see...